As college football kicks off, North Texas prepares for championship game

ARLINGTON -- It's just 136 days away: The first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship -- and North Texas is hosting it.

"It was a very difficult competition among cities to get to host the first one," said College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock.

While everyone has their favorites, it's way too early to know what teams will be taking the field on Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

In the meantime, fans have something else to anticipate. Before the big game, there will be a weekend of special fan events to bring the excitement to football fans across the area.

"The game is obvious. People have tickets to the game and they will come to the game and it will be a celebration," said the stadium events organizing committee chair. "But we wanted to spread that out. So that Dallas-Fort Worth is able to touch it and feel it with these events we are putting on."

It begins with Playoff Fan Central, an interactive indoor fan experience that will be held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. It will feature a full scale football field and allow fans to experience what media day is like along with the coaches and players. It will run Jan. 9-11.

Then there's Playoff Playlist Live, a concert series that will feature A- list performers at the American Airlines Center. It all culminates with the Championship Tailgate at AT&T Stadium before Monday's game for ticketholders.

Some of the events will be ticketed. Ticket prices and the concert line up will be announced later in the fall.